The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-01-19
4 LEAGUE CLUB FRANCHISE.
Indianapolis Can Get That Of the st.
Louis Maroons by Paying $4,000.
The Demand Is Regarded as Exorbitant and
Will Not Be Accepted, but There Will
Be Further Negotiations.

About thirty highly enthusiastic admirers OF
baseball assembled in Room at the Denison
House. last night Mr.. George w. Burnham
called the meeting to order. Mr. Louis New
berger was chosen to preside, and Mr. Burn
ham was made secretary Mr. j. I. Brush
made o statement regarding his negotiations
with Mr.. McChesney, the man who holds the
fate of the ST. Louis club in his hand.
Mr.. Brush said that he had learned that
the st. Lonis club was for sale; that this
fact could not be denied. The st. Louis club
had not been successful last season. having lost
something like 500, O00 The interested parties
are anxious to dispose Of the team, but they
want to be reimbursed for their losses, and they
asked $25. 900 for their league franchise, which.
Mr.. Brush said, the Indianapolitans certainly
would not give. 1t was a little 2reposterous;
they could stand some things, but couldn't pay
that for base Ball franchise. So he proposed
that, to fix the thing. they should
until the quotations on baseball franchises
take drop. Mr.. Brush believed the St Louis
people thought they could probably induce the
IndiarapoitanS to come to terms by saying that
they ccnld dispose OF Glasscock for ST. 000 Denny
for 81, 900, Healy for So COO If the indianapolis
people wanted to pay the 100000 after the dis
position Of those players, they would be welcome
to the franchise. But the St Lonis club with
out those would be like chicken without head
vitality to it. This arrangement caused some
consterpation, when Mr. Brush reported it on
his return, and Mr.. A j. Treat wired Mr.
A. g. Spalding in regard to it and received the
reply that under the rules Of the
League such an arrangement could not be made,
as the rules forbid the signing away of any
players before dissolution by any club in the
League. So this. Mr. Brush said, was sort of
bluff on the part of St Louis. He thought
that if So, 900 offered, few days considera
| ton and conference would bring compromise.
| Mr.. Burnham made brief statement in re-
gard to the interest shown in the city relative to
| the purchase. He had the promise he said, OF
| seventy two business men who would give S2j
| each for the purchase of admission
| ticket. He thought that if Indianapolis wanted
| ball club now was the time to get good one.
| If they wanted players superior to the inferior
ones of the St. Louis Club they could release
the latter and engage some OF Kansas City's
| 6isbanded cowboys. He urged prompt action
| on the part OF those present in forming tempo
| rary organization, at least, and deciding some
! thing before the special meeting of the League
| which will occur in a few days.
| Mr.. Treat stated that the arrangements under
| which company could be organized were to in
corporate as an athletic club. make the capita
stock limited, to render it non assessable
and the thing would be completed They would
receive 30 per cent of the gate receipts outside
OF the city, and 20 per cent inside the city. Th'
club would have to play fifty-two games insd
the city and fifty-two out Of it.
Mr.. George +. Bryce stated that there wouit
be no difficulty in obtaining the of the base
ball park. now the property of the Athletic Club
Mr. Henry c. Levi moved the appointment O
a committee of three TO confer with the ST. Loui
management, aud the chairman appoipte,
Messrs Brush Treat and Burnham Mr.. Lev
olso moved that committee of nine, whose mis-
sion would be to canvass the business men TO
subscriptions, be appointed, and the Chairman
appointed Messrs. j. I. Brush, G. W. Burnhaui
L. S. Gordon, NJ. Ii. Spades, d. w. Coffin
Charles F. Meyer. Louis Newberger, George F
Bryce, j. c. McCutcheon and Harry S. New t.
act in that capacity. The meeting of this com
rnittee will occur to- night at o'clock in the Ia,
Office Of Morris & Newberger, in the Ingall
Block.
Several we'll Unknown baseball players wer
present and showed great interest in the meet
ing, among them Larry Mckeon and exumpir
| Brepnan.